Amusement device



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- A. VASZIN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 12 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 U FIQHZ v .ZZW'Z/ x c 1 w #k-K Sept, 16, 192%. 1,508,995

A. VASZIN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 12 1923 3 SheetsSheet 2 Sept. 16, 3924?,

1,508,905 A. VASZIN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Feb 12 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented ept. 16, 1924..

AUREL VASZIN,

or narrow, onto.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed February 12, 1923, Serial No. 818,718. Renewed August 11, 1924.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AURnr. VAszIN, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Day- 1 ton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices,

of which the following is a specification,

- in amusement parks .in which the sightseers may be conveyed by car preferably driven electrically.

It is my object to provide such means of transportation over platforms which are moving in such a way that the sightseers will not be injured and yet experience the sensation desired.

It is a further object of my invention to {provideanelectrically driven means of transportation thoroughly insulated from the passengerse It is a furtherobject to provide such a means of transportation which will always be connected to the source of current no matter what position or what movement there may be of the vehicle.

It is the further object of my invention to provide platforms which will move the "ohicle in various directions without disengaging the vehicle from contact with the source of supply of current.

It is an additional object-to provide an arrangement of an amusement house with a system of tracks, moving platforms, decorated interiors for the entertainment of the public and particularly anarrangement of open spaces which will enable the public on the outside of the amusement house to see the passing of the vehicles and movements to which such vehicles are being subjected as a means of attracting new patrons to the amusement house.

Referring to drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the arrangement of the amusement house.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mecha- Figure 1 showing the arrangement of the tracks in the amusement house.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the vehicle on the track.

Figure 7 is a side'elevation of the vehicle.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, showing the vehicle.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the trolley.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the trolley in detail.

Referring to the drawings 'in detail, Figure v1 shows a building preferably rectangular in shape which is provided with an entrance platform 1 access to which is had by the steps 2. This platform is separated from an exit platform by a railing 3. The exit platform is designated 4 and communicates with the ground by, the steps 5. Turning to the entrance platform there is an open passageway through the wall 6 of the building, so that persons may enter the cars which are standing ready for occupancy on that portion of the track designated 7. The cars proceed over the track in the direction of the arrow, past the exit platform 4. It

will beunderstood that the frontwall of the building is open at 6 and 8 between the columns 9 and 10, while the rest of the building is enclosed by the walls 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. The building is dark with the exception of certain lighted spaces to behereinafter mentioned. Proceeding from the portion of the track designated 7 the car moves to the unloading portion of the track 16. around the curve 17 on to the shifting floor. 18, around the curve 19, and down the straightaway portion of the track 20 until reaching the hump floor generally designated 21. After passing from this portion 21 the car travels over a semi-circular portion of the track designated 22, and runs up on the portion of the track designated 23 which is inclined to the left. It then goes on to the portion of the track designated 24 which inclines to the right. This portion of the track is connected'to another semi-circular portion 25. From this curve 25 the car proceeds to the straightaway 2p, the hump floor 27, and on to another semicircular curve portion 28, which delivers the car to the bumping floor 29 and thence to the loadi 1 platform 7. 7

It will berved that this track takes the shape of a double U ooncentricall located, having the free ends of the U-shaped portions connected by semi-circ dar tracks with the base of the outside U being formed ofa shifting door.

The walls of the U and their ends are spaced from one another. These spaced portions are brid d by the walls 30, 31, 32. and 33. Such wa ls are usually composed of painted scenes, rocks, arches or other architectural or decorative features designed to amuse the public. The portions of the track between these walls or decorated portions are illuminated, while the rinder of the track is dark. Prospective patrons standing on the outside of the building may look through the opening at 6 and see the movement of the cars on the hump door at 21 and '27 or in incline at 23, and also see something of the decorations. This moving exhibition is designed to act as an indu'cementto pros tive patrons to enter and participate In t e enjoyment of the amusement house.

Figure 4: indicates in profile the undulations of the track over which the vehicle must travel.

Figure 2 shows one of the forms of moving the track which is known as a hump floor. This floor consists of a platform 3t, an incline 35 which is hinged to another incline 36 at 37, a roller 38 supporting 36, the roller itself supported on a standard 39. 36 in. turn is hinged at 40, a movin platform 11 which is mounted on a rol er 42. This roller 12 travels back and forth on a stationary platform 43 carried by the standards 44:. The track 41 is elevated intermittently by a cam 45 eccentrically located on a shaft 46 which is operated by any suitable power. 41 is hinged at 47 to an incline platform 48 which communicates with the stationary floor 49 of the track.

The bumping floor is composed of an incline 50 which is stationary, a moving platform 51 which is supported on s rings 52 which maintain it normally somew at above the level of the approaching stationary platform 50 and the exit platform 53. When the weight of the car gets on the moving platform 51 which is supported by springs and when the platform-51 is de ressed sufficiently it comes in contact with a threepoint cam 54 which rotates continuously. A rapid vibration is therefore im arted to 51 and to the vehicle which may be riding over it.

With reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that the track is mounted on standards 55 which are braced by braces 56 forming a rigid and safe structure. This also provides a means of quickly and readily constructing this amusement house at amusement parks Where it is necessary to economize on structures of this character which have a relatively-short life, and are'not to be regarded as permanent construction.

As to the vehicle tself and t e meth d aeoe eoa of propelling it, the following is a detail description The floor of the track is provided with a contact plate 57. Upon this plate the wheels 58 of the vehicle or car travel. These wheels are mounted upon axles 59 which support a gearbox 60. The gearing in this box is driven by an electric motor 61 with a a shaft '62. The axle 59 is supported in end brackets 63 which are attached at 643 to the vehicle. The attachment consists of a vertical portion and horizontal portion oi."

the bracket 63 so as to equally distribute the strain on the vehicle. It will be understood that the vehicle is thrown violently sideways against the side walls 65. This side thrust is taken up by the rollers 66 which are carried in each of the brackets 63. The vehicle therefore is composedof side members 66 and a bottom 67 An ornamental dashboard 68 is provided for the passengers who occupy the seat 69 mounted on this side frame 66. Bumper springs 70 are provided at the rear of the vehicle to take up any shock due to two vehicles coming in con tact with one another.

In order to provide a form of electrical contact with the source of current nomatter what position the vehicle may assume, I have found it necessary to provide a trolley of the character hereinafter described, and illustrated. A contact plate 71 is provided in a vertical position on the inside of the side wall 65. This side wall is separated in two parts to provide an openin 72 through which the shaft 73 of the trol ey can project. This trolley is provided with a triangular-shaped head 74. Such a head provi es a broad bearing surface for engaging the trolley with the contact plate 71. This contact plate is suspended and closed by a cap member 75. The trolley rod 73 is connected by a nut 76 to the yoke 77 which is provided with a pair of arms 78. This yoke forced against the contact p ate 71 by a coil 7 spring 86 which has its inner ends 87 en= gaging the plate and its outer ends 88 engaging 89 on the supporting member 79. Between the plate 84: and side Wall 66 is. a plate of insulating material 90. I provide preferably a trolley on either side of the vehicle. The triangulanshaped head prevents the trolley from flying out of the normal place of its location behind the side wall 65 and beneath the top wall 75. The trolleys are connected to the electric motor by the usual cables,

It will be observed that the wheels 66 are provided at the four corners of the vehicle and are adapted to come in contact with the plate 91 on the side wall 65.

While I have shown and described certain features as constituting my invention, it will be understood that parts have been shown for purposes of illustrationonly, and that I do not desire to be limited to such details, as obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an amusement device, a building, a track consisting of two U-shaped tracks located concentrically one within the other with their free ends closely adjacent to one another and directly] connected by semicircular portions.

2. In an amusement device, a building, a track consisting of two U-shaped tracks located concentrically one within the other with their free ends closely adjacent to one another and directly'connected by semicircular portions, a vehicle traveling on said track, and means to supply power for actuating said vehicle, said power means being associated with said track.

3. In an amusement device, a building, a track therein consisting of two U-shaped tracks having their free ends connected by semi-circular track ortions, said track portions being adapted to support and guide a vehicle, a vehicle traveling thereon and means to supply the source of power for actuating said vehicle, said ower means being associated with said trac r, and means associated with said track for alternately elevating and depressing portionsof said track without making the track impassable to the vehicle.

4. In an amusement device, a building, a track therein consisting of two U-shaped tracks having their free ends connected by semi-circular track portions, said track portions being adapted to support and guide a vehicle, a vehicle traveling thereon and means to supply the source of power for actuating the said vehicle, said power means being associated with said track, and means associated with said track for alternately elevating and de ressing portions of said track without ma ing the track impassable to the vehicle, and other portions of said track yieldingly supported away from the vibration means and means of vibrating said track portion when the yielding means supporting it is compressed by the weight of the've icle passing there over.

5. In an amusement device, an enclosure having a portion of one wall open, the interior of said enclosure being so arranged that an observer on the exterior of the building can see a portion of the interior of the o posing wall and intermediate objects 1; erebetween, a continuous track in said buildingadapted to support and guide the vehicle, said track having portions adapted to be moved without making the track impassable for the vehicle, said portions of the track which are adapted to move being located in' a position for the observance of observers from the exterior of the building.

6. In an amusement device, an enclosure having a portion of one wall open, the interior of said enclosure being so arranged that an observer. on the exterior of the building can see a portion of the interior of the opposing wall and intermediate objects therebetween, a continuous track in said building adapted to support and guide the vehicle, said track having portions adapted to be moved without making the track impassable for the vehicle, portions of said track which are adapted to move being located in a position for the observance of observers from the exterior of the building, I

an entrance and exit platform adjacent to opening in said building and a portion of said track adapted adjacent said entrance and exit platform to support vehicles for loading and unloading of passengers.

7. In an amusement apparatus, anenclosure, a track therein consisting of a U- shaped' portion adjacent the walls of the .building and a second U-shaped member within the first U-shaped member having the free ends thereof connected by semi-circular track portions to the free ends of the first mentioned U-sha ed member, said track consisting of a loa ing and unloading portion on one arm of the first U-shaped portion, a shifting. floor, a hump floor, a floor inclined to the left, 'a floor inclined to the right, a second hump floor, and a bumping floor.

8. In combination, in a vibrating track,

a stationary approach and a stationary exit, an intermediate section of track therebetween, yielding supports therefor, a continuously moving vibrating member beneath said intermediate section of track adapted to engagetherewith when the weight of the vehicle on the intermediate sectlon of the track depresses said section in engagement with the vibrating member.

9. In combination, in a vehicle consisting of a bottom and side walls and a seat thereon, brackets at thecorners of said vehicles I brackets at the corners of said vehicle adapted to support axles and road wheels, axles and road wheels carried thereby, a bumper wheel carried by said bracket on the side thereof, a motor carried by said vehicle for driving said wheels and a harp carried by the side Wall of said vehicle for maintaining contact with a source of current for operating said motor, a track supporting 10 said vehicle consisting of a bottom portion moaeoe and a side portion, a contact plate supported by said side ortion and protected tloiereby so arranged t at the head of said harp may project with the inside portion in contact with said plate and a plate on the bottom of said track with which said road Wheels engage.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

AUREL VASZIN, 

